MLF Announces 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing Schedule, Rules and Entry Dates

Top Two Teams at College Fishing National Championship Advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship to Compete as Pros for a Shot at Winning up to $235,000

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2020) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the schedule, rules, payouts and entry dates for the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing season, culminating in the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance on Grand Lake in Grove, OK, as well as advancement opportunities for anglers to compete as boaters and co-anglers in the 2021 Toyota Series Championship.

  • Both members of the winning team and the runner-up at the 2021 College Fishing National Championship advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus.
  • Both members of the third-place team at the 2021 College Fishing National Championship advance to the 2021 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with a 115 HP Mercury.
  • Top 10 teams from each 2021 qualifying event and the top 20 teams from the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the 2022 College Fishing National Championship, where the top two teams will advance to the 2022 Toyota Series Championship.
  • Top performing schools will continue to be recognized with School of the Year titles awarded to the top overall school of the season, as well as the top school from each of five conferences. Schools earn points based on their top two teams in each tournament, with School of the Year being awarded to the school with the most points in each conference and overall at the end of the season.

Live weigh-in coverage will continue at every tournament with expanded national television coverage of the 2021 College Fishing National Championship on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network. Anglers will also qualify for MLF College Faceoffs presented by Wiley X held in conjunction with select Abu Garcia College Fishing tournaments, where they will compete using the catch, weigh, immediate-release format.

“We are excited to welcome back familiar faces and meet new students during the 2021 season,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF BIG5 Senior Director of Tournament Operations, College and High School. “The chance to qualify for MLF College Faceoffs and advance to the Toyota Series Championship provide our anglers multiple avenues to hone their craft and work their way up through the MLF BIG5 circuits. With national livestream and television coverage, we are thrilled to provide college anglers the very best opportunities to elevate their schools, sponsors and personal brands. We expect 2021 to be our most successful college fishing season yet.”

Registration for teams wishing to compete in the 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing tournaments will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CT December 14, 2020, for teams from school clubs represented in the 2020 College Fishing National Championship. All other teams may register beginning December 15, 2020. Teams can register at FLWFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. The entry fee remains the same for 2021 – $75 per team for teams who enter prior to onsite check-in and $100 for teams who enter onsite.

Abu Garcia College Fishing teams may compete in both conference and nonconference tournaments, giving them the flexibility to construct a schedule that meets their needs. Each conference includes three regular-season qualifying tournaments. The top 10 teams from each regular-season tournament and the top 20 teams from the Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship. Additional teams qualify for the National Championship if the field size in regular-season events exceeds 100 boats or 200 boats in the Open.

The 2021 Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance is on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, March 3-5, and is hosted by the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau and the City of Grove. Held in conjunction with REDCREST, the 2021 championship will provide unique networking opportunities for college anglers, Bass Pro Tour pros and potential sponsors.

Complete rules for the 2020 Abu Garcia College Fishing program can be found online at FLWFishing.com.

For complete details and updated information, visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow Abu Garcia College Fishing on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube.

Abu Garcia College Fishing Open

Tue-Wed               TBA

Mar 30-31

 

Central Conference 

Friday                    Table Rock: Table Rock State Park Marina

Mar 26                  Branson, MO

Friday                    MS River-La Crosse: W. Copeland & Clinton

Jul 30                    La Crosse, WI

Friday                    Lake of the Ozarks: Public Beach #2

Oct 15                   Osage Beach, MO

 

Northern Conference          

Friday                    Smith Mountain Lake: Parkway Marina

Apr 30                   Huddleston, VA

Friday                    Potomac River: Smallwood State Park

Jun 4                      Marbury, MD

Friday                    Detroit River: Elizabeth Park Marina

Aug 20                  Trenton, MI

 

Southeastern Conference    

Friday                    Harris Chain: Venetian Gardens – Ski Beach

Feb 12                   Leesburg, FL

Friday                    Lake Guntersville: Lake Guntersville State Park

Apr 23                   Guntersville, AL

Friday                    Lake Chickamauga: Dayton Boat Dock

Oct 22                   Dayton, TN

 

Southern Conference           

Friday                    Lake Somerville: Lake Somerville Marina

Apr 16                   Brenham, TX

Friday                    Lake of the Pines: Lakeside Park

Jun 11                    Jefferson , TX

Friday                    Lake Dardanelle: Lake Dardanelle State Park

Oct 1                     Russellville, AR

 

Western Conference

Saturday                Shasta: Bridge Bay Resort

Jan 30                    Redding, CA

Saturday                California Delta: Big Break Marina

May 15                  Oakley, CA

Saturday                Clear Lake: Redbud Park

Sep 25                   Clearlake, CA

 

Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship presented by Lowrance

Wed-Fri                 Grand Lake: Wolf Creek Park

Mar 3-5                 Grove, OK

                              Hosted by Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau & City of Grove